NORFOLK, Va. – The No. 10 Old Dominion University field hockey team (10-6, 5-1) defeated No. 4 Connecticut (13-3, 5-1) by a 5-0 final Friday afternoon and claimed a share of the Big East lead.

“It is really positive for us to get a solid win over a Connecticut team that can be very dangerous," said ODU head coach Andrew Griffiths. "After a slow start, we took our chances well today – we finished effectively. The team worked hard defensively, we limited their clear goal scoring opportunities and our goalkeeping was strong. I am very pleased with the result.”

Old Dominion won their ninth consecutive game and earned a trip to the Big East tournament with great defensive effort to earn their sixth shutout in seven games. Sarah Breen and Katy Fuhrman each scored two goals, Teisha King added a goal, and both Rosario Villagra and Kelsey Smither achieved three assists.

Both teams started the game taking time to earn each scoring opportunity. At the 20-minute mark Old Dominion found a new stride, both offensively and defensively. Breen took a corner feed from Villagra and Smither to tally her 11th goal of the year. Ten minutes later, Fuhrman went all the way to the net and scored her first goal of the year with an assist going to Villagra.

The start of the second half did not differ from the end of the first half. At 40:09 Fuhrman came out scoring her second goal of the game. Six minutes later, Breen scored her 12th of the year off another corner with assists going to Villagra and Smither. ODU capped off the day at 50:52 with King scoring her third goal of the year with an assist going to Smither.

This is ODU’s ninth straight win dating back to September 22 when they played in Louisville. ODU was outshot 14-9, but held the Huskies in check with just four penalty corners to ODU’s four. Old Dominion sophomore goalkeeper Megan Hept came up with nine saves to earn her sixth shutout in seven games and tenth win on the year. Huskie keeper Sarah Mansfield earned her third loss and totaled one save.

ODU 2-3=5

UConn 0-0=0

22:34 ODU Sarah Breen (11) from Rosario Villagra and Kelsey Smither

32:58 ODU Katy Fuhrman (1) from Rosario Villagra

40:09 ODU Katy Fuhrman (2)

46:50 ODU Sarah Breen (12) from Kelsey Smither and Rosario Villagra

50:52 ODU Teisha King (3) Kelsey Smither

Shots: ODU (9), UConn (14)

Corners: ODU (4), UConn (4)

Saves: ODU (9), UConn (1)

Three stars:

Honorable Mention: The entire defense and M Sarah Breen.

-The Monarch defense, made up of backers to midfielders to goalie did not let UConn come away with more than one decent scoring chance. Breen scored the winning goal and the games fourth goal to give Old Dominion all the scoring they needed.

#3 Star ODU F Rosario Villagra

- Made every big play when the Monarchs needed it and came away with three assists.

#2 Star ODU M Kelsey Smither

-Came out with a purpose and was unselfish all day accounting for three assists in the 5-0 win over No. 4 Connecticut.

#1 Star ODU F Katy Fuhrman

-Played fast all game long and scored both the second and third goals, which seemed to take the life out of the Huskies.

Old Dominion plays No. 2 North Carolina at home this Sunday at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex. Sunday's game is also the Championship Effort game for ODU fall sports. The Championship Effort games are a school spirit contest that also feature team community service component among ODU's 18 sports.

GAME COVERAGE

Sunday’s home game is a Monarch Media Game of the Week and available for viewing at odusports.com. ODU Director of Broadcasting Ted Alexander will join ODU Hall of Famer Kathy Fosina Mustain (ODU '92) to call the North Carolina match.